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Traditional Chinese Medicine and Sports Injuries

Many studies have shown the efficacy of acupuncture for pain-related syndromes. People accept that acupuncture can help pain, but mistakenly think that somehow it just masks the pain, or makes it go away for a short period of time.  In actuality, acupuncture can help heal the root causes of physical pain from sports injuries and prevent further complications.

Injured muscles and tendons tighten in response to untreated pain. As the muscles tighten, they exert pressure, twisting and turning the supporting structures and creating further problems in the body. Eventually, untreated injuries may cause the greatest discomfort upstream or downstream from the original site, creating a confusing clinical picture. Acupuncture and bodywork can treat multiple sites, helping to address multiple manifestations of the injury. Once the tightened structures become readjusted and more elastic, circulation is restored, and the tissues get more oxygen, allowing metabolic wastes to flush away.

Why wait until an injury is chronic and disabling? I've treated several men who will need knee-replacement surgery because they delayed treatment for injuries. While the acupuncture was effective for short periods of time, their injuries had progressed to the point where the tissue was too damaged to be saved. However, men in otherwise good health who come in before their symptoms become chronic often find they have almost a full-range of motion restored, and a dramatic reduction of pain. Sometimes it only takes one or two sessions.

I've treated back pain, rotor cuff injuries, wrist pain, knee pain, tennis elbow and heel pain - with good results in most cases.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Genitourinary System

Even younger men sometimes have problems with their prostate or with frequent urination. The most common cause of increased urinary frequency in younger men is a bacterial infection; if this cause is ruled out, medical doctors are often puzzled as to how to treat this problem. Traditional Chinese Medicine offers effective herbal treatments for this type of situation, although they typically take a week or two to begin working well.

In older men, benign prostatic hypertrophy is the primary cause of frequent and nighttime urination. Although there are prescription drugs such as Finasteride (Proscar) for this situation, they can take a long time to work and are not as effective in men with only mild enlargement of the prostate. Additionally, impotence and loss of libido are among the reported side effects. Traditional Chinese Medicine strengthens the Chinese Kidney system (which includes the kidney) to help with urination problems. These treatments may also help cases of decreased libido. Some patients also report improvement in lingering back pain.

Prostrate Cancer

In many cases, prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men, does not require immediate medical intervention. The majority of prostate cancers are slow growing. For patients who have not decided whether to have surgery or radiation, Chinese herbs and acupuncture can keep the body healthy while they are deciding on treatment. One of my patients experienced a 17 percent drop in his PSA reading after four months of acupuncture, dietary changes and herbal therapy. Some Chinese herbs have a strong affect on cancer, when used in the appropriate blend. Acupuncture can also help patients who are taking androgen-blockers and having hot flashes as a result. 

Studies: Hot Flashes in Men